It’s true in the political arena as it is in the field of beauty pageants. In the countdown to the 2004 Miss Universe Pageant (53rd edition) slated June 1 in Ecuador, the Miss U website (Latin Forum, etc.) has been receiving "votes" from all over on the "most likely" to win the title and our very own bet, Bb. Pilipinas-Universe Maricar Balagtas, is emerging as one of the top favorites, with former Misses Universe Lara Dutta (of India), Mpule Kwelagobe (of Botswana) and Amelia Vega (of Dominican Republic, the reigning Miss U) actually picking Maricar as "it." Let’s keep our fingers crossed that the "verdict" of these Misses U and other "voters" will hold true during the Miss U grand finals and that the judges will think the same way.
Like Maricar (who won the Binibini crown after two attempts and was named Miss Globe International in 2001), several other "repeaters" are competing for the Miss U crown.
Funfare’s "beauty experts" Felix Manuel, Joey Cezare, Francis Calubaquib and Gery Yumping make the roll call:
• Miss Aruba Zerelda Candice Wai Yen Lee, first runner-up in the 2001 Miss World
• Miss Belize Leilah Pandy, 2003 Reina Costa Maya Internacional and 2003 Miss Mesoamerica Internacional second runner-up
• Miss Bolivia Gabriela Oviedo Serrate, 2003 Reina Sudamericana semi-finalist
• Miss Costa Rica Nancy Soto Martinez, 1999 Miss Teen Internacional semi-finalist
• Miss Lebanon Marie Jose Hnein, 2003 Miss World semi-finalist.
• Miss Norway Kathrine Sorland, 2002 Miss World third runner-up
• Miss Switzerland Bianca Nicole Sissing, 2003 Miss World semi-finalist
• Miss Ukraine Oleksandra Nikolayenko, 2001 Miss World semi-finalist
• Miss USA Shandi Finnessey, 2002 Miss America contestant
See. Maricar is in good company.
Maricar is now in Colombia taking a crash course in poise, make-up, dressing properly, walking properly, the works.
"There’s nothing wrong in sending a loser in one contest to compete in another contest," said Felix Manuel. "After all, beauty contests have different criteria; the judges have different tastes. What may not be beautiful to a Miss Universe judge may get the nod of a Miss World or a Miss International judge."
During her send-off a few weeks ago, Maricar was asked several questions by the media, three of them "Miss U questions," to wit:
1. What would you do if you met an alien? (Modified version of the man-on-the-moon question in the 1969 Miss U contest won by Gloria Diaz.)
Maricar: I would be scared at first but I will invite him to visit my hometown and cook my specialty (for him) which is beefsteak Plaridel (Bulacan) style. It’s sweet and saucy.
2. What would you do if you had a million dollars? (Final question during the 1973 Miss U contest.)
Maricar: I would give half of it to my family and keep a quarter of it for myself. That would be enough for me to live comfortably. The rest I will give to charity.
3. What makes you blush? (Final question during the 2002 Miss U contest.)
Maricar: When I say the wrong things. But Miss Russia (who won but was later stripped of the title) already said that. I would probably blush if I saw my crush, Enrique Iglesias."
Meanwhile, as usual and as always, let’s sit back and relax and hope for the best – and not rely on the unrealiable surveys, Internet or otherwise.
(E-mail reactions at rickylo@philstar.net.ph)